This is due to projection of Shri Rama in a bad light and over glorifying the character of Ravana by some poets/movies/TV serials.
I) Projection of Shri Rama in a bad light
Modern day writers, influenced by Western/communistic way of thinking and mis-understanding the social issues appearing in that era by comparing with the present day social perspectives, often question Shri Rama’s actions—particularly the abandonment of Sita, Disowning of Sita after the death of Ravana and consequential Sita’s Agni Pravesha episode, disfiguring of Surpanakha, the slaying of Vali, and the killing of Shambuka.
a) The episodes of abandonment of Sita and killing of Shambuka appears in the Uttara Kanda of Ramayana. As Uttara Kanda itself an interpolated version, those stories can be ignored.
b) The episode of disowning of Sita by Shri Rama after the death of Ravana and consequential Sita’s Agni Pravesha was interpolated story, inserted to elevate Shri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu. And, thus can be ignored.
c) The episode of disfiguring of Surpanakha was a misunderstood subject.
d) Similarly, the episode of elimination of Vali is another misunderstood subject.
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II) Over-glorification of Ravana: Some, including in popular literature and movies, have been portraying Ravana as a misunderstood genius, a great devotee of Shiva, an expert in arts, and a compassionate ruler, shifting focus from his actions of abducting Sita, his cruel behaviour.
Popular persons/writers/movie artists/non-believers and having communistic leanings in India like Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy promoted the ideas of attributing Shri Rama and Ravana war as Aryan - Dravida tussle, Ravana as the Dravidian ruler, etc.
Film makers of Adipurush, Sr. NTR from Andhra Pradesh (his film Shri Rama Pattabhishekam), etc, are responsible for over glorification of Ravana.
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The starting point for this Projection of Shri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu and wrong projection of Shri Rama as a male chauvinist in abandoning of pregnant Sita, might have been Bhavabhūti’s play Uttararāmacharita.
A sanskrit play Uttararāmacharita (उत्तररामचरित - The Later Story of Rama) composed by *Bhavabhūti* (born Śrīkaṇṭha Nīlakaṇṭha; c. 680-c. 750 – c. 760 CE), consists of seven acts.
It depicts the later life of Shri Rama from
a) the coronation after Shri Rama's return from exile,
b) abandonment of pregnant Sita into the forest,
c) Shudra Shambuka, who was performing ascesis, episode
d) fight between Lava and Kusha duo and the Shri Rama's army led by Chandraketu , the son of Lakshmana, to protect the horse belonging to Horse ritual of Shri Rama.
e) Shri Rama's reunion with his wife Sita, and his two sons Lava and Kusha, covering a period of more than twelve years.
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Interestingly, Bhavabhūti did not project Shri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu, but mentioned as a King, tormented between King's duty and family bonds.
Further, in the episode of fight between Lava and Chandraketu, Sumantra invokes blessings of Gods - that were held in belief by *Bhavabhūti* , on the latter. That part is as follows:
"May the great Primeval Boar give strength for defeat of none but an enemy. And further —
May the God Sun who is the father of your race cheer you up in the combat! May the son of Mitra and Varuna (Vasistha) who is the spiritual teacher even of your sires complement you. May you possess the vigour which belongs to *Indra and Vishnu* , Agni and Maruts, and to Suparna (Garuda). And may the mantra of the bow-string-sound of Rama and Laksmana bring you victory !"
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Please note that
a) Vishnu was mentioned after Indra, as an assistant to Indra, which is the method followed by Valmiki.
b) Great Primeval Boar was mentioned first. We have to remember that in the Satapatha Brahmana, the Prajapati was mentioned as lifting the Earth from water by assuming the form of a boar.
Hence, Bhavabhūti might have adopted the adoration of boar from Satapatha Brahmana, but not from Puranas, where boar was attributed to Vishnu.
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Hence, the Uttara Kanda - the 7th Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, duly incorporating the episodes projecting Shri Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu, might have been composed by some other poet, after Uttararāmacharita came into existence.
Though Bhavabhūti mentioned abandoning of pregnant Sita, and also reunion of Sita and Shri Rama, the author of Uttara Kanda separated them forever.
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